PUBLIC LAW 112-272 JAN. 14, 2013

WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT

126 STAT. 2448 PUBLIC LAW 112-272-JAN. 14, 2013

Jan. 14, 2013
[H.R. 6364]
World War I Centennial Commission Act. 36 USC prec. 101 note.

Public Law 112-272
112th Congress

An Act

To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, to provide for the designation of memorials to the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "World War I Centennial Commission Act".

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS. The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Establishment of World War I Centennial Commission.
Sec. 5. Duties of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 6. Powers of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 7. Centennial Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 8. Termination of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 9. Prohibition on obligation of Federal funds.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT. There is established a commission to be known as the "World War I Centennial Commission".

(b) MEMBERSHIP.

(1) COMPOSITION. The Centennial Commission shall be composed of 12 members as follows:

(A) Two members who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(B) One member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(C) Two members who shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.

(D) One member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.

(E) Three members who shall be appointed by the President from among persons who are broadly representative of the people of the United States (including members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and representatives of veterans service organizations).

(F) One member who shall be appointed by the executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

(G) One member who shall be appointed by the executive director of the American Legion.

(H) One member who shall be appointed by the president of the Liberty Memorial Association.

(2) TIME FOR APPOINTMENT. The members of the Centennial Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT. Each member shall be appointed for the life of the Centennial Commission.

(4) VACANCIES. A vacancy in the Centennial Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(c) MEETINGS.

(1) INITIAL MEETING.

(A) IN GENERAL. Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Centennial Commission have been appointed, the Centennial Commission shall hold its first meeting.

(B) LOCATION. The location for the meeting held under subparagraph (A) shall be the America's National World War I Museum.

(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.

A) IN GENERAL. The Centennial Commission shall meet at the call of the Chair.

(B) FREQUENCY. The Chair shall call a meeting of the members of the Centennial Commission not less frequently than once each year.

(C) LOCATION. Not less frequently than once each year, the Centennial Commission shall meet at the America's National World War I Museum.

(3) QUORUM. Seven members of the Centennial Commis.sion shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.

(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. The Centennial Commission shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

(a) IN GENERAL. The duties of the Centennial Commission are as follows:

(1) To plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I.

(2) To encourage private organizations and State and local governments to organize and participate in activities commemorating the centennial of World War I.

(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities throughout the United States relating to the centennial of World War I.

(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about events and plans for the centennial of World War I.

(5) To develop recommendations for Congress and the President for commemorating the centennial of World War I.

(b) REPORTS.

(1) PERIODIC REPORT. Not later than the last day of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than the last day of each 3-month period thereafter, the Centennial Commission shall submit to Congress and the President a report on the activities and plans of the Centennial Commission.

(2) RECOMMENDATIONS. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Centennial Commission shall submit to Congress and the President a report containing specific recommendations for commemorating the centennial of World War I and coordinating related activities.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

(a) HEARINGS. The Centennial Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Centennial Commission considers appropriate to carry out its duties under this Act.

(b) POWERS OF MEMBER AND AGENTS. If authorized by the Centennial Commission, any member or agent of the Centennial Commission may take any action which the Centennial Commission is authorized to take under this Act.

(c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES. The Centennial Commission shall secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Centennial Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Upon the request of the Chair of the Centennial Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Centennial Commission.

(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES. Upon the request of the Centennial Commission, the Administrator of the General Serv.ices Administration shall provide to the Centennial Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Centennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.

(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.

(1) IN GENERAL. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Centennial Commission is authorized

(A) to procure supplies, services, and property; and

(B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, or other legal agreements.

(2) LIMITATION. The Centennial Commission may not enter into any contract, lease, or other legal agreement that extends beyond the date of the termination of the Centennial Commission under section 8(a).

(f) POSTAL SERVICES. The Centennial Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

(g) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES. The Centennial Commission shall accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 7. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. Members of the Centennial Commission shall serve without compensation for such service.

(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES. Each member of the Centennial Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions of title 5, United States Code.

(c) STAFF.

(1) IN GENERAL. The Chair of the Centennial Commission shall, in consultation with the members of the Centennial Commission, appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Centennial Commission to perform its duties.

(2) COMPENSATION.

(A) IN GENERAL. Subject to subparagraph (B), the Chair of the Centennial Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and any other personnel appointed under paragraph (1).

(B) LIMITATION. The Chair of the Centennial Commission may not fix the compensation of the executive director or other personnel appointed under paragraph (1) at a rate that exceeds the rate of payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

(C) WORK LOCATION. If the city government for Kansas City, Missouri, and the Liberty Memorial Association make space available in the building in which the America's National World War I Museum is located, the executive director of the Centennial Commission and other personnel appointed under paragraph (1) shall work in such building to the extent practical.

(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. Upon request of the Centennial Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any employee of that department or agency to the Centennial Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERV.ICES. The Chair of the Centennial Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.

(f) SOURCE OF FUNDS. Gifts, bequests, and devises of services or property, both real and personal, received by the Centennial Commission under section 6(g) shall be the only source of funds to cover the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission under this section.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

(a) IN GENERAL. The Centennial Commission shall terminate on the earlier of

(1) the date that is 30 days after the date the completion of the activities under this Act honoring the centennial observation of World War I; or

(2) July 28, 2019.

(b) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.

(1) IN GENERAL. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the activities of the Centennial Commission under this Act.

(2) EXCEPTION. Section 14(a)(2) of such Act shall not apply to the Centennial Commission.

SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON OBLIGATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out this Act.

Approved January 14, 2013.

 

 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY H.R. 6364:

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112-701, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012):

Dec. 12, considered and passed House.
Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 31, House concurred in Senate amendment.